Friday, June 08, 2007

Watson wouldn't, would you?

This week researchers reported the discovery of a new gene linked to Alzheimer's disease. Specifically, they describe how mutations in the gene called GAB2 might make someone more likely to develop the illness in old age. In a paper published in the journal Neuron, scientists hypothesise that having the right version of GAB2 protein helps protect against the formation of abnormal protein “tangles” that kill brain cells.

I don't think it would be an exaggeration in the least to say that scientists discover a new disease gene every day. I certainly spend a whole lot of time thinking and writing about such breakthroughs.

Following each of these findings, experts say that people might consider getting tested to find out if they have a genetic predisposition to disease. And there are, to be sure, reasons to seek such information. Discovering you have a high risk might motivate you to make appropriate lifestyle changes – for example, staying mentally active if you are prone to developing Alzheimer's.

But speaking personally, I feel no urge to find out if I will develop dementia. I can imagine learning I have a risky gene and as a result spending the rest of my days glued to the computer screen, trying desperately to research what to do about a disease that I do not yet have and that modern medicine cannot yet cure. It's so easy to get swallowed up in worry and miss the big picture.

When DNA pioneer James Watson had his genome sequenced he asked them to leave out the portion for an Alzheimer's gene called APOE4. One of his grandmothers had the illness and he did not want to know about his own risk. Would you?

There's also the issue of if someone knows they are likely to get Alzheimer's, they may get depressed and who knows how this may effect their overall mental state in old age. They may read more into what most would simply consider part of "getting old", forgetting the odd name and where you leave your keys etc.I too wouldn't want to know, unless there was a cure.

I married into a family affected by Huntington Disease, and I know many members of that community. Although not universal, the attitude among many is that any knowledge is power, and that a decision to decline genetic testing is a form of denialIf we imagine how pervasive that attitude is among the wider public, we can predict that genetic testing will prove a lucrative business, regardless of its utility.

Absolutely I would want to know. It would affect decisions such as having a living will, diet and exercise patterns and more--making sure I read those books I want to read before I cannot. As to worry--I know I will die and this does not worry me. My life expectancy focusses me on living life. A friend was diagnosed with a brain tumour and was told he had six months. gain, he was glad to know. Even though it did not radically change what he did in life, it changed how he experienced it--like Mario in Tosca: E lucevan le stelle!

I would want to know. My Aunt has Alzheimer's and it is a terrible disease that has had a huge impact on many people, mainly of course her and my Uncle.

Seeing what she has become and what he's been through, I would take certain steps for myself to make sure the weight I placed on my loved ones was minimal. I think once the onset was determined I wouldn't be around much longer.

To add to what others have said I also don't think it would be a bad thing to know. If anything you're being realistic about your own mortality. It would help anyone to live their life to the best that they can, given what they have. And before anyone misinterprets that I mean only a knowledge of a predisposition, not a carved in stone predetermined date with an Alzheimer's destiny.

I am currently living under my means so that I can save money for my old days. I will undergo any test available to find out how long these old days will be and whether my current retirement plan is too little or too much.

I knew the 2moons dil so I always try my best to earn them more and more to make myself strong. I have never played the game before, at the beginning I did not know what is so I went to kill the monsters with the 2moons gold that I earned with myself in the game. I will duty bound to a friend to help brush the 2moon dil together with my friends. I spend a good relationship is then fly to tears. If my levels are very high, I can go to buy 2moons dil more and more and I will not depend on my friends to help me to earn them. I get some cheap 2moons gold as the gifts to encourage me.